Prospect Info: 2024 7th OA : Carter Yakemchuk (RHD)

[Micklebot]

i think we keep him up until at least december. if he is slowing down, he goes back.

if he is still knocking it out of the park, keep him up past that too.

but winning nhl games is the most important thing for the franchise right now, and Yak is heck of a lot better than Hamonic and JBD and will very soon be better than Jensen if he isn't already.

I prefer slow cooking prospects too, since that never hurts development, but we need NHL wins dammit!

Idk, we're a team that first and foremost needs to clean up the defensive side of things. Winning hockey means having the right guys to put out there for the right situations.

I think we're better off having Jensen and Zub in the top 4, and imo the bottom pair is better suited to be defensive minded players, or two way guys. I think keeping Yakemchuk up won't likely do much to move the needle, I'm good with him getting a game or two, but he's got stuff to work on that would benefit from playing 25+ mins a night in the W rather than 10-14 in the NHL.

 

[Inf4mous0ne]

At this point I'm hoping they give Yak 9 games (assuming he keeps up this play) but space it out a bit longer by not playing them in a row.

Then he isn't playing as much as he would down in the CHL? If you mean spread the 9 games over the season, I believe once a prospect goes back to the CHL, they can't be called back up until next season, but people can correct me on that. I'd give him a look for 5 games or so and send him back unless he absolutely blows your socks off and proves you can't send him back.

 

[Micklebot]

Then he isn't playing as much as he would down in the CHL? If you mean spread the 9 games over the season, I believe once a prospect goes back to the CHL, they can't be called back up until next season, but people can correct me on that. I'd give him a look for 5 games or so and send him back unless he absolutely blows your socks off and proves you can't send him back.

Once sent back they can only come back on an emergency recall, and even then, you need to hit 3 emergency recalls before you can pull a guy from the CHL from what I understand.

 

[bicboi64]

It's really amazing how the narrative has changed with Yak over the course of the last few weeks.
It has gone from being 'why did we pick this guy so early over this guy and that guy' and he can't skate, questionable hockey intelligence, very raw, he's 3 years away from being on the team, etc.

Now, a few weeks later, we get comments like this above, which are pretty tough to argue with right now.
I would admit that I thought Yak was going to take at least 2 years (back to junior for 1 year and then AHL for 1 year) before he was ready.

At this point, he is at least earned the right to get some games in and see where that goes.
Should he continue to be one of our best d-man every game and help us to win hockey games, then he should stay.
I think ultimately, he goes back to Junior at some point and that is probably the best thing for his development, but this is such a great problem to have right now.

I'd like to line up for my plate of crow first. I thought it was a mistake picking Yak over Parekh and still think Parekh will be the better guy, but Yakemchuk has been an absolute stud for us and I want him on the big club for 9 games.

Play him on the 3rd pairing to get some defensive minutes, but then let him run the 1PP, he's got a better shot than Sandy and Chabot and we'll see some sweet one timer goals

 

[JD1]

Thomas Chabot in 2 seasons will go from #1 PP guy and our best player and do everything guy to not even being on the PP

our best hope with Chabot is that we find a trading partner

In 2 seasons, he is not likely to
play on the PP
play on the PK
play shutdown

so he's a limited use player making 8

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Honestly, we kinda rushed all of them. Even Brady was somewhat weak physically in his rookie NHL season.

Everyone is racking up the miles on their bodies and injuries lists, and we haven't even made the playoffs, yet, let alone opened up the contention window.

I don't think they rushed the young players themselves, it was their inability to surround them well enough with decent vets that was the much bigger issue imo. The young guys weren't just making the team, but were typically the best options at the Coach's disposal, with little for effective support.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

I don't think they rushed the young players themselves, it was their inability to surround them well enough with decent vets that was the much bigger issue imo. The young guys weren't just making the team, but were typically the best options at the Coach's disposal, with little for effective support.

That definitely plays a role in it. Part of the reason why some teams just remain good even through rebuilds. Surrounding the kids with bargain bin UFAs wasn't the best thing for our kids.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

That definitely plays a role in it. Part of the reason why some teams just remain good even through rebuilds. Surrounding the kids with bargain bin UFAs wasn't the best thing for our kids.

Nope definitely not. I get that it can be tough, but for example, I look at Calgary and I think, hang on to Weegar, Kadri and maybe another 1 or 2. They can be good examples, but more importantly, help contribute and not immediately expect the kids to carry the torch as all of your best players.

 

[GCK]

There are 2 deadlines for CHL players, 9 games for ELC slide and 40 to burn a year of service toward UFA.

 

[OD99]

There is a balance between development, and icing the best NHL team that you can.

While it has only been exhibition games, so far Yakemchuck has shown he can contribute to wins and hasn't shown any glaring defensive deficiencies to offset his offensive contributions.

I don't know the answer, but I would think the team feels they need to at least see him in a regular season game before they send him back down.

If he looks great and puts up more points tonight, with our AHL roster, does that change anyone's thinking?

 

[aragorn]

It's really amazing how the narrative has changed with Yak over the course of the last few weeks.
It has gone from being 'why did we pick this guy so early over this guy and that guy' and he can't skate, questionable hockey intelligence, very raw, he's 3 years away from being on the team, etc.

Now, a few weeks later, we get comments like this above, which are pretty tough to argue with right now.
I would admit that I thought Yak was going to take at least 2 years (back to junior for 1 year and then AHL for 1 year) before he was ready.

At this point, he is at least earned the right to get some games in and see where that goes.
Should he continue to be one of our best d-man every game and help us to win hockey games, then he should stay.
I think ultimately, he goes back to Junior at some point and that is probably the best thing for his development, but this is such a great problem to have right now.

Yakemchuk was my pick from the beginning when we started looking at the 2024 draft months in advance of the draft. IMO he checked all the boxes of exactly what Ott needed on defence, but especially at RD. And yes, I had lots of discussions & arguements for months with people who wanted any of the other 4 D available when Ott went up to draft. You don't draft for need was brought up often, bad skater, couldn't pivot & low hockey IQ which I assume came from internet hockey writers & draft sites. Any of the top 6 D that were available could have helped Ott & will likely be good NHL players, but Ott IMO needed what he had at RD & I think so far anyway he seems to have silenced his critics.

So I'm not surprised he is doing well, he has NHL size already, he's a right shot, he hits, he fights & he scored 30 goals on a crappy team & he plays an aggressive game which I like. While his defensive play can improve that can be taught while some of the other things he does cannot & he is a way better skater than people gave him credit for & he has a better hockey IQ than most thought. The good news is that he is only 19 yrs old & will only get better with experience, it will be interesting next yr to see whether he stays with the team or spends some time in Belleville which I think could be helpful & productive for him. I have him returning to junior after maybe a NHL game or two, he deserves at least that.

 

[Micklebot]

Cheryl Pounder was on Tsn1200 pregame and said she thinks Yakemchuk earned a spot in the opening night lineup.

 

[Icelevel]

Cheryl Pounder was on Tsn1200 pregame and said she thinks Yakemchuk earned a spot in the opening night lineup.

He leads the team in points and has been one of the best players each game he’s played. So yeah he has earned it. Give him a couple and send him back.